Volume Three: The Turmoil at Xuanwu Gate Chapter 113: The Tavern (Part Two)

The next day, at first light, Wang Tiechuan arrived with his four sons, bringing overnight-crafted samples: a cast iron wok, several spatulas, and other kitchen utensils. Ming Yu inspected everything thoroughly and was extremely pleased. The workmanship was solid and robust; Wang Tiechuan had clearly put great care into it. With a wave of his hand, Ming Yu rewarded them ten strings of cash and instructed them to produce ten more woks to the same standard.

Seeing the iron wok stirred Ming Yu’s appetite. It had been years since he last tasted stir-fried dishes. Just thinking of his favorite braised pork made his mouth water. Carrying all the utensils, he headed to the kitchen of the Prince Qin’s mansion.

The Qin Prince’s household was large, with hundreds of servants, maids, attendants, and guards. Among them, there were over twenty cooks. There were two kitchens: one small stove dedicated exclusively to the prince, his consort, heir, and princess, and a larger kitchen where meals were prepared for the servants and guards.

Since Ming Yu planned to open a restaurant, he naturally needed skilled chefs. Otherwise, he alone would be overwhelmed from dawn till dusk. Wang De had already informed the kitchen staff that the young master would showcase his extraordinary skills today and that they should learn attentively.

Ming Yu had been to the kitchen before when coaxing Li Lizhi, so he was familiar with the place. He wandered around but noticed there was no pork anywhere. He motioned for the kitchen supervisor and asked, “Why no pork?”

The head cook was taken aback, replying, “Master, pork is a lowly meat, tainted with a strong urine smell. The nobility do not eat it. Only the guards and servants consume it.”

“Nonsense!” Ming Yu snapped, furious. “Back in the army, I ate pork almost every day. My favorite was big chunks of braised pork belly—rich and tender. With that, I could eat three large bowls of rice in a row! Where is this urine smell coming from? If people have ranks, so be it, but to classify pigs, cows, and sheep like this?”

“Get me some pork! The belly, with three layers of fat!” Ming Yu ordered the cooks.

Soon, a large slab of fat, marbled pork belly was brought from the main kitchen. Ming Yu washed the meat thoroughly, blanched it, drained it, then cut it into two-inch cubes. Wielding his spatula, he instructed the cooks, “Watch closely and learn every step carefully. From now on, you’ll be the ones making this. Those who do well will be handsomely rewarded; those who don’t can pack up and leave!”

The cooks widened their eyes, determined not to miss a single detail.

He poured oil into the iron wok, added spices to release their aroma, then tossed in the pork cubes to sauté. When the meat turned golden and gave off a tantalizing fragrance, he added soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Finally, he added water, ginger, and scallions to braise the meat.

“It’s done! After half an hour, bring it to a boil, then keep stirring to reduce the sauce until it thickly coats the pork evenly,” Ming Yu wiped his sweat and cautioned the cooks to watch the heat carefully. Meanwhile, he continued explaining the essentials and techniques of stir-frying home-style dishes.

In his vision, stir-frying would become a signature feature of his restaurant. Once introduced, it would surely attract hordes of Tang Dynasty people who had never tasted such flavors before.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Ming Yu personally took charge, stirring continuously. Soon, a bowl of fragrant, tender, sweet, and succulent braised pork belly emerged fresh from the wok.

“Here you go, everyone try!” Ming Yu said, grabbing a large chunk and popping it into his mouth. He squinted his eyes in delight. Yes, this was the familiar flavor!

The cooks, never having seen such a novel cooking method, were drawn by the pork’s glossy reddish hue and the mouthwatering aroma. They eagerly took pieces, chewing slowly, savoring the rich, sweet, melt-in-the-mouth taste — truly a rare delicacy.

They passed chopsticks back and forth, mouths dripping with grease, praising it endlessly. Gone was the disdain they had shown earlier toward pork.

When Ming Yu came to his senses, the bowl of braised pork was already empty, the sauce licked clean. Some even dipped flatbread into the sauce and ate it thoroughly.

Damn! They were really shameless. I only wanted them to taste, and they didn’t even leave a scrap for me.

Ming Yu gave each cook a sharp kick on the backside. “Damn it! If you want to eat, learn to make it yourself. From now on, each of you follows my method. If you don’t do it well, you eat it all by yourselves!”

For seven or eight consecutive days, Ming Yu woke at dawn to train the kitchen staff in stir-frying techniques: pan-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, and braising. He poured out all his knowledge.

Moreover, he encouraged the cooks to innovate constantly, promising generous rewards for any new dishes they developed.

No matter the ingredients, they could try stir-frying with different combinations. Many minds working together could invent new recipes continuously. Although Ming Yu was no master chef, he had eaten and seen enough to offer fresh ideas.

In just a few days, the cooks at the mansion were enlightened and awestruck, admiring him and eager to join his ranks immediately.

Ming Yu’s “inventions” of novel stir-fry methods and unheard-of delicacies earned unanimous praise from the entire household. The children grew plump and cheerful, never wanting to eat anything but meat.

Even Li Shimin, whose political fortunes were waning, seldom failed to show a hint of a smile at dinner.

A few days later, when the cooks had mastered the training and could produce decent dishes—not yet matching future master chefs but respectable as palace chefs with some unique skills—Ming Yu chose an auspicious day to reopen “Taste Delights.”

Though people had never eaten pork, they had certainly seen pigs running about. Having lived through an era of information explosion in his previous life, Ming Yu knew the importance of advertising.

On opening day, “Taste Delights” hung a massive banner in red with golden characters, strikingly conspicuous: “Grand Reopening! All dishes half price! Buy one, get one free!”

At the entrance stood a huge iron wok filled with tender, braised pork belly, its rich fragrance wafting far and wide.

A dozen newly recruited waiters in fresh uniforms lined up, shouting at the top of their lungs, “Delicious delicacies, fine cuisine! Guaranteed to leave you praising endlessly!”

“Unheard-of new dishes—eat it or I’m a liar!”

“Recommended by the proprietor: our signature braised pork! Rich but not greasy, lean but not dry! Never tiresome to eat! Suitable for all ages! A heavenly delight! Don’t like it? No charge!”

And so on...

Curiosity killed the cat, and the simple folk of the Tang Dynasty had never witnessed such an attention-grabbing sales tactic; all came in with curiosity to taste.

As soon as they entered, a waiter approached with a small bowl of the fragrant braised pork, smiling warmly. “Honored guest, to celebrate our reopening, every customer receives a complimentary signature dish! Please try it first!”

The diners eyed the meat’s plump, glossy red color with doubt but took a bite. Their eyes lit up immediately. The meat melted in their mouths, fresh and tender, full of rich flavor. They praised it without end.

The waiters, following orders, recommended other signature dishes, bringing one new stir-fried creation after another to the tables.

The colors, aromas, and tastes combined to whet appetites. Guests devoured the food ravenously, feeling they had never tasted anything as delicious. This meal was well worth it.

Soon, the “Taste Delights” dining hall was packed to the brim, with customers coming in waves. Located in the bustling West Market district, heavy foot traffic helped spread the word swiftly. Word of mouth spread like wildfire.

Long lines formed outside the restaurant, everyone eager to sample the famed flavors.

Ming Yu had anticipated this; he placed many stools outside and assigned staff to manage the queue, promising that those who waited longer would receive more complimentary dishes. Today’s opening was a loss leader—he only sought to build a solid clientele.

Many customers entered hesitantly but left with full bellies, gleaming lips, and rounded stomachs, satisfied beyond measure.

In the kitchen, a dozen cooks from the Qin Prince’s household bustled about in a frenzy. No sooner had one dish finished cooking than new customers arrived, leaving no time even to wash the pots.

Watching the booming business from a private room, Ming Yu grinned so widely his eyes narrowed to slits, as pleased as a fox that had stolen a hen.

Where there is joy, there is envy.

Dugu Jie, accompanied by a few familiar wastrels, glared darkly at the thriving “Taste Delights.” His face was gloomy, radiating hostility, eyes flashing with murderous intent.

He had lost an ear to Ming Yu some time ago and only now fully recovered. To hide the disfigurement, he let his hair fall over the side, masking the injury. But this only deepened his hatred for Ming Yu, wishing he could tear him apart.

Moreover, “Taste Delights” had long been Dugu Jie’s coveted prize. He had loudly declared his intention to acquire it, certain of success.

Yet, after much effort, just as the old owner died and the young master prepared to sell, Dugu Jie planned to swoop in and acquire it almost for free. Unexpectedly, Ming Yu had cut in, thwarting all his plans.

As a centuries-old noble family rooted in Chang’an, Dugu Jie knew exactly who had interfered. Old grudges compounded with new ones made his hatred burn fiercer than ever. He longed to storm in and smash everything to pieces.

But recalling Ming Yu’s ruthless methods, Dugu Jie hesitated. He dared not act rashly.

Glaring at the bustling restaurant, he finally whipped his sleeve and growled through clenched teeth to his servants, “Let’s go.”

Before leaving, he cast one last fierce glance, silently vowing, “Li Mingyu! Enjoy your triumph for a few more days! The Qin Prince’s days are numbered! Let’s see how long you can keep jumping around! When the time comes, I have every way to deal with you. I’ll make sure you can neither live nor die, and regret ever being born in this world. I, Dugu Jie, will write that chapter myself!”